Zambia national team striker Patson Daka is aware of the huge expectations on his shoulders ahead of Friday’s Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier against Mauritania.
The Leicester City forward believes the high expectations are not just from the fans back home but also the players themselves.
“I know that a lot has to be done; a lot is expected from myself, so I really know the reason why I am here. I am happy that I am able now to meet with my teammates,” he said.
“I know that the expectations are so high not only from the fans back home but also from ourselves as a team because we know what is at stake.”
Daka wants the team to put their misfortunes behind them and focus on the new beginning which kicks off this Friday with Mauritania.
“I think this is a new beginning. It is a new challenge that we are starting and so we just must put behind us all the misfortunes that we have had like missing the AFCON,” he said.
“And this is a new journey that we have started on we have to concentrate on it we have to work together as a team. This is a team sport; we have to support each other every person is important in this team, and we have to appreciate what each person brings to the table because no one can do anything by themselves.”
“To have a great start is what everyone is looking forward to and it’s going to be encouraging also to have a better start going into the next games.
So, we just have to make sure we give our very best and get a positive result that everyone is looking forward to,” he added.
Daka also took time to appreciate the fans for their unwavering support through thick and thin.
“Thanks so much to the fans who have continued to be so dedicated to the national team supporting us through thick and thin. It hasn’t been an easy road not only for us but also for the nation,” he said.
“The fans leave what they are doing just to support us to make sure we have the moral support that we want, and we will just continue to give our best.”
“It is not that we go out there wanting to lose but we always give our best to make sure that at the end of the day we give them a smile for the support that they have given us.”
Meanwhile, South Africa-based goalkeeper Mwenya Chibwe and TP Mazembe defender Tandi Mwape have become the latest foreign-based players to join the camp in Marrakech ahead of Friday’s match.
Denmark-based Lubambo Musonda and Edward Chilufya who plies his trade in Sweden will fly directly to Nouakchott for Friday’s encounter.
The Chipolopolo commence its Qatar 2022 FIFA race on Friday in Nouakchott before hosting Tunisia at home on September 7, 2021, at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Do we really need these awful looking buttons on a national jersey????
This time we will make it
We have good plays we are going to make it
GSK11 I believe that’s a Golf T-shirt and not the actual Jersey. Tough we need better quality that can only come with an established brand not thus maga maga business.
Though we need….
True Sibs.